Frequently Asked Questions

all about the helpers

Most of the service providers who advertise on HireAHelper do loading and unloading jobs for a living. Many are professional labor-only moving companies that specialize in load and unload services. Others are full-service moving companies willing to send their workers out on labor-only moving jobs. Some are individuals who aren't necessarily professional movers, but who can provide labor. Make sure to review a helper's credentials, description, and customer reviews.

A special license isn't required for lifting things in and out of a truck or storage container. However, some service providers choose to list other licenses they carry (like business licenses, full-service mover licenses, etc) as a way to attract more customers and legitimize their listing.

Helpers will have their insurance credentials clearly listed in their profile. When it comes to insuring your goods, there is complimentary mover's insurance available when you place your order through HireAHelper which covers $.60/lb up to $10k. If you hire a service provider with an avg review of 4.5 or better there is also Full Value coverage available for purchase from MovingInsurance.com. Rates start at $12 per $1000 in coverage.

When you provide your zip code we will only show you helpers that cover your area. Helpers aren't on the clock until they arrive at your doorstep. The amount you pay on HireAHelper includes the helper's travel fees to and from the job site.

Up to one flight of stairs is always included in every helper's rates. Some helpers might charge more for additional flights, that will be shown upfront on their listing. You can also read the helper's service description for more details.

If the helper's service area includes your loading and unloading locations, you can hire them to unload your truck too. This works great for local moves! Keep in mind that the helpers do stay on the clock when driving between your loading and unloading locations. If your load and unload addresses are more than 50 miles apart, you'll probably want to hire two separate helpers for the load and the unload.

Helpers specialize in loading and unloading, they are not professional packers and do not provide boxes and other packing supplies. They can provide packing help if you are participating, supervising, and providing the supplies. If you'd like to have them help with packing, make sure to put this in your order details and account for the extra time needed.

Helpers do not provide furniture pads. We suggest getting them from your rental truck or storage container provider, or you can also get them from a home improvement store such as Home Depot® or Lowes®.

Helpers charge hourly. If you'd like to have them disassemble/reassemble furniture, make sure to put this in your order details and account for the extra time needed. Before the job date, make sure to discuss what tools are needed with your helper.

They might take a quick water or restroom break and for longer jobs, they could need to take a lunch break. But they should only charge you for the hours they spend working. Make sure to discuss your helper's exact policy on breaks with them prior to your move.

Customer reviews. If a helper provides lazy workers or unsatisfactory service, you'll definitely read about it in their customer reviews. Also, keep our Service Guarantee in mind. If you feel like the job went unreasonably long, let us know and we'll evaluate the situation and see if a refund is in order.

All helpers state that they will not hold their customers liable for injuries. We also recommend that you discuss any such concerns directly with the helper you select, most will also be willing to sign a release of liability for you upon request.

When selecting a helper one of the most important things to look for is if they get good reviews from their past customers. But many helpers can also provide background checked workers. If you would like to book background checked moving labor and don't find a suitable provider in your area, please give us a call at (800) 995-5003.

selecting a helper

Found a perfect Helper? Book them! Immediately after you place your reservation, you'll get their primary contact information. Or even better, give them a chance to call you first. Often times these companies are out on jobs all day and will give you a call between jobs or at the end of the day.

during your move

Of course! It's a great way to save some money. Two things to keep in mind: 1) the job will go a little faster, and 2) your friends and family don't do this for a living and certainly won't pack a truck as well. Use your pros wisely!

This is something you should definitely discuss with your helper prior to your job date. In general, if the furniture is light and doesn't contain breakable items, it might be okay. Otherwise, we recommend that you take out the breakable or particularly heavy items and make sure they are properly wrapped and packed.

booking process

If you're not sure how long the job will take, have a look at our helpful labor guide to get an idea. Still not sure how much time to book? Give us a call at (800) 995-5003 and we can help. After your booking is complete, your helper will also contact you and let you know if you need more or less time. Tip: When booking, provide as many details about your job as possible so your helper will get a clear idea of the size and scope of the job. Example: How many rooms are in your home? How many flights of stairs?

Each moving labor company on the site is independently owned and operates and sets their own rates. Rates also change depending on the competition within a given marketplace. Helpers also pay HireAHelper a commission on every completed order, other moving labor marketplaces may charge a higher or lower commission depending on their level of service and support. For our fee, we're able to offer complimentary mover's insurance, 7-day-a-week customer support, a Service Guarantee, payment via credit card, and an online customer review system.

Your card will be authorized for the full amount 1 day before your move date at around 5am PST. "Authorized" means the charge is pending. Then the charge will be completed when the job is complete. If you are booking a last minute job (the job is today or tomorrow) your card will be authorized immediately upon booking.

Helpers confirm newly booked jobs throughout the day or at the end of the day. So, you should hear from them within 24 hours. If you need to speak to them immediately, you'll get your helper's primary contact information via email.

Cancel at no charge up to 24 hours before your job start time. If you cancel after that, the helpers will charge for 1 hour at the rate you booked. Canceling within 1 hour before the job doubles this fee. To cancel, please contact your helper first! Then call or email HireAHelper.

To change the job date, first contact your helper and see if they're available. If they are, just send us an email letting us know about the date change. If not, let them know you're canceling the job and then contact us to arrange a new helper.

Politely. If you've left a negative review, the helper may contact you and try and resolve the issue. You'll be able to edit your review if you choose to do so. But we won't tolerate harassment and we never remove or edit customer reviews at the request of the helper (we've had a few helpers leave because of this, but we believe in the policy!)

Very few. If your review contains intense profanity, blatant racism, etc. we reserve the right to remove it. We never remove or edit customer reviews at the request of the helper (we've had a few helpers leave because of this, but we believe in the policy!)

paying your helper

Part of the reason helpers like advertising on HireAHelper is that we verify their customer's payment info. That way they know you are serious about hiring them and have the funds to pay them. So, to place a reservation with your helper, we ask for a major credit card.

One of the reasons customer satisfaction is so high on HireAHelper is this: helpers know their customers are serious about hiring them and have the funds to pay them. If they show up and do the work properly they know they'll get paid. Customers don't want flaky helpers and helpers don't want flaky customers, so everyone is happy.

Once an refund is issued, the funds are released within one business day. Most credit card companies take 2-5 business days to post the funds back to your account. If you used a debit card, your bank may take 5-10 business days to post the funds.

Some helpers offer refunds for unused time and some do not. It's hard work setting up a schedule, and good companies will try to set aside enough time to finish your job which means turning down other jobs. However, some helpers will refund up to 1 hour, and a few will refund for any amount of unused time. Helpers only refund for unused hours over their hourly minimum (Ex. 2 hour minimum, etc.). Each helper's listing will indicate if they refund for unused time. Your helper will also call you prior to your move date to discuss the details and you can ask them if the hours should be adjusted. If you're not sure how much time to book have a look at our helpful labor guide or give us a call at (800) 995-5003 and we can help.

No. It's best to add hours to your HireAHelper order using your credit card. That way we can send you an accurate receipt and we have record of the transaction in case there's an issue later. The three ways to do this:

Text message: we'll send you a text message the morning of your job. When the job is complete, just reply the text message and follow the prompts.

Phone call: when the job is done, call (800) 995-5003 and follow the prompts.

Signed invoice: Your helper may present you with an invoice at the end of the job. Just indicate the total number of hours and sign the invoice.

complaints & damage claims

By the time your job date rolls around, you will have already spoken to your helper. So, give them a call first. Keep in mind they have an hour window to arrive. If you can't reach them, call HireAHelper at (800) 995-5003 and we'll immediately help you find a replacement if needed.

Give them a call and keep in mind they have an hour window to arrive. If you can't reach them call HireAHelper at (800) 995-5003 and we'll immediately help you find a replacement if needed. We take no-shows very seriously; helpers who do it owe you a fee that can either be applied towards the replacement or sent straight to you for the inconvenience. Helpers who no-show habitually won't be allowed to advertise on the site.

By booking through HireAHelper you receive complimentary insurance on every helper's service which covers $.60/lb up to $10k. If you hire a company to load and unload your truck or container through HireAHelper then your goods are also covered while they're being transported. The insurance does not cover damage that happens while your goods are being transported in a freight trailer. If you hire a service provider with an avg review of 4.5 or better there is also Full Value coverage available for purchase from MovingInsurance.com. Rates start at $12 per $1000 in coverage.

First, give them a call and let them know there was an issue. If they don't resolve the issue to your satisfaction, file a complaint with us and we'll step in. Also, remember that customer reviews are very powerful, so make sure to leave one.

about HireAHelper

No. HireAHelper is an online marketplace where you can find, compare and book an independent service provider. Using HireAHelper is much like using a travel website to compare rates and book a hotel room - you're making a reservation with an independent service provider.

No. Each helper is an independent service provider that uses us to handle their booking process. Using HireAHelper is much like using a travel website to compare rates and book a hotel room - you're making a reservation with an independent service provider.

Heck yes we do! We have a full time staff here in Oceanside CA. We're here to help you book with confidence and provide support should the need arise. We're here 7 days a week and our phone number is (800) 995-5003.

Helper's pay HireAHelper a commission on every completed order. Other moving labor marketplaces may charge a higher or lower commission depending on their level of service and support. For our fee, we're able to offer complimentary movers insurance, 7-day-a-week customer support, a Service Guarantee, payment via credit card, and an online customer review system.